The Athens Rotary Club is proud to support our community and the Trinity Community Center. On September 24th the Club presented a $15,000 check to the Athens-Limestone Community Association which oversees the Trinity site. The funds will assist in the completion of landscaping at the site and the Club will assist with some of the landscaping efforts, including tree planting.

The site is home to the Union built Fort Henderson, where escaped slaves fought for the Union and were captured by Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. It is also home to Trinity School, which served as the county's only all black high school until integration. The site tells the story of slave to soldier to student.

The new community center which will open later this year will serve youth and adults with job training skills and other educational training opportunities.

Athens Rotary Club presents a check for $15,000 to members of the Athens-Limestone Community Association at the Trinity site (Photo courtesy Lora Scripts)

During the month of December, Athens Rotary Club filled bags for the Athens City School Full Tummy Project. Rotary then distributed them to each city school each Friday in January (Athens Intermediate, Athens Elementary, Julian Newman, Cowart and Brookhill).

The second portion of the project was to distribute food items to the county schools for their weekend backpack food programs for elementary children at risk for hunger. Packages were delivered to West Limestone, Blue Springs Elementary, Owens Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Tanner, Creekside, Cedar Hill and Piney Chapel.

The Athens Rotary Club acted quickly to purchased and delivered supplies to those in need the day after the devastating April 28, 2014 tornado in Limestone County. The club also donated $500 to an area food bank. As we pray for and support our neighbors, this is a good reminder of Rotary’s motto in action…”Service Above Self.”

On Saturday March 5th, volunteers from the Athens Rotary Club worked on the new “Pecan Park” located at the corner of Marion and Green Street. Rotarians planted trees, flowers, shrubs, and assisted with landscaping in the new green space that the City of Athens prepared beneath the old tree.

Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson updated the club on activities within the APD. The department recently rounded up drug dealers as part of a six-month undercover operation known as Operation Harvest Festival. APD also recently began operating four SUVs that run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from the cities CNG station.

Donna Jo and John Curtis hosted the Athens Rotary club at their farm on November 1, 2013. The Limestone chapter of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association provided lunch. The fall weather and colors could not have been more beautiful!

The Athens Rotary Club recognized Everett Osborne as its 2013 Paul Harris Fellow. Judge Jimmy made the presentation and they were joined on stage by approximately seventeen previous Paul Harris Fellows from the Athens club.

Everett Osborne

Left to Right: Judge Jimmy Woodroof; Everett Osborne; 2013-2014 Club President Jim Moffatt

The Huntsville Botanical Gardens is celebrating its 25th year of operation in 2013. Athens Rotary was proud to welcome Paula Steigerwald (CEO) and Harvey Cotten, (VP and Chief Horticulturist) to update the club on the gardens. Judge Jimmy Woodroof also brought several excellent examples of Bonsai trees from his personal collection.

New Athens City School superintendent Trey Holliday updated the club on the state of the City school system, including the status of is 45 day entry plan. Mr. Holliday also briefed the club on changes coming to the school systems, which includes the “Power Up” program designed to place technology in the hands of all City school students and teachers. Athens City Schools is home to: 3,180 students; 418 employees; and 222 teachers.

The Athens Rotary Club recognized two very special people for years of Rotary service on August 2, 2013. Bill Hightower celebrated 40 years of Rotary service and Curtis Grissom was recognized for 25 years. The club response with a standing ovation Congratulations to these fine gentlemen!

This past week our speaker was our Rotary District Governor, Tom Greene. Mr. Greene spoke to the club about his definition of leadership and how that relates to being a Rotarian and building stronger communities.

Dr. Bob Glenn, a Sherlock Holmes scholar, shared his knowledge of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous character and why he endures to this day.

Fredrick Martin promised to pose for the camera if he had a chance! 2009 - 2010 Past President Frederick Martin (Left) is presented a long overdue President's Pin from 2012 - 2013 Past President Jason Thomas (Right).

Eighteen Athens Rotarians and friends gathered on Saturday morning, June 8, 2013 to clear brush and debris from the former W. E. Estes & Son property. A portion of this property will be used for the new High Cotton Art Incubator.

Athens State University President Dr. Bob Glenn updated the club on the growth of the University including renovations on campus, the Alabama Center for the Arts, and the Athens State Center for Lifelong Learning. Please visit the links below to learn more about these exciting additions to Athens State.

Dr. Stephen Black shared his inspiring vision for, and insights to, community service with the Athens Rotary Club. Dr. Black is the director of Impact Alabama. Since 2004, Impact Alabama’s Focus First initiative has trained thousands of student volunteers from over 20 colleges and universities across the state who have screened over 48,000 children for vision problems.

Steve Maples, Executive Director of the Von Braun Center (VBC), shared 37 years of memories from the Center. Steve shared many interesting facts regarding the history and operation of the VBC including some of the more interesting artists to visit over the years.

Steve Maples (left) and Jimmy Bryan (right)

The Athens Rotary Club also had the pleasure of welcoming Tenson Mangwinyana from the Rotary Club of Victoria Falls (District 9210) located in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Tenson told the club about his home, which included several photos of their local Rotary Club. Tenson has a passion for Rotary and it’s vision and we are honored to have him in Athens.

Rotarians and friends gathered on the afternoon of March 17, 2013 to improve our city. They planted more than 50 trees and shrubs on Jefferson Street between Green Street and Forrest Street. This projected was lead by Doug Gates and Barry Hickman. It was a resounding success!

On March 1, 2013, Gary Knotts, former Major League Baseball Pitcher visited the Athens Rotary Club. Gary discussed many aspects of his baseball career including his time with the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers. We thank Gary for taking time to be with us.

Our new Four Way Test Banner was donated in honor of Bill Hightower for his 40 years of service to the Athens Rotary Club. Club President, Jason Thomas (Left) and Bill Hightower (Right) are shown here with the new banner.

The Athens Rotary Club would like to welcome Austin Smith. Austin is the General Manager of Jimmy Smith Buick GMC, where he has worked for over twelve years. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Business. Austin is the son of fello Rotarian Jimmy Smith. In his spare time Austin enjoys golf, coaching his children’s basketball and baseball teams, as well as spending time on the river. Austin and his wife Amelia have four kids: Blake (8), Emily (6), Hayden (5), and Kyle (3). The Smith family attends Lindsay Lane Baptist Church. Ausin was proposed by John Stockton

H. K. Derryberry and Jim Bradford shared their inspiring story of friendship with the Athens Rotary Club on February 8, 2013. Jason Thomas presented H. K. with an honorary membership in the Athens Rotary Club. Mayor Ronnie Marks presented H. K. and Jim with Keys to the City.

Rotary District 6860 Governor Phil Williams inspired Athens Rotarians with his presentation on August 10, 2012. Governor Williams discussed many aspects of how Rotary is making a difference in the world and in our communities. He encouraged the membership to tell what Rotary is doing.

It has been a busy week in our club and for our club in our community. "Just Down the Road" performed at our October 3rd meeting just in time for the Fiddler's Convention. The club also had an international visitor. Thompson Yin, a 23 year veteran firefighter from Ghana, Africa was in Athens learning about our firefighting techniques to take it back to his home department. Athens Rotary also presented checks to the Alabama Veterans Museum and the Limestone County Archives.

The Athens Rotary Club & The Spirit of Athens have won an award of Excellence from Main Street Alabama. The Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships recognized Athens Rotary and SOA for their joint efforts to beautify downtown Athens though project such as "Pecan Park."

Join us for the first "Rotary After Hours" on Thursday September 18th from 5:30pm-7:30pm. We will meet at Limestone Bay Trading Co. in Mooresville. Bring your spouse or significant other and meet Rotarians from the Huntsville and Decatur clubs. This event will count as a meeting makeup for the Athens Club.

Volunteers are still needed to help with CASA Mud Volleyball (Saturday July 19th), and the Rotary International Day of Service at the Birdie Thornton Center (Tuesday July 29th). Please e-mail Tere Richardson at tereannr@aol.com if you are able to serve.

Our club was fortunate to have a visit from HK Derryberry and Jim Bradford this past week. HK wants to keep in touch with all of his friends via facebook. He currently has about 1,100 followers and is looking for more. If you are a facebook user you can follow him at www.facebook.com/hk.derryberry.

Rotary Awards Night will be held Saturday June 28th. The evening begins with dinner and awards at from 6:00pm – 8:00pm, followed by live entertainment from the band “Simon Sez.” The band plays a wide range of music from Motown to current day, and they will perform until 11:00pm.

East Limestone head football coach Jeff Pugh discussed his love of growing up in Athens and Limestone County, mentoring young men though football, and the Athens/East Limestone rivalry. Coach Pugh instills in his players that God, family, and education must come before football.

Baron Huber shared his entertaining, and inspirational, story of determination and perseverance in following his dream to play Division I football. Baron's athletic career culminated in a 2009 BCS Football National Championship with the University of Alabama.

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